College Station, Texas – The Missouri men’s basketball team held Texas A&M to just 28.8 percent shooting but the hosts were able to take advantage of 37 free-throw attempts to earn a 63-57 victory on Tuesday night.
Graduate Sean East II (Louisville, Ky.) led the Tigers (8-11, 0-6 SEC) with 17 points and five assists, while junior Tamar Bates (Kansas City, Kan.) registered his ninth-straight game in double-digit scoring with 16 points.
The Tigers started the game strong with a 13-4 lead over the first six minutes. However, Mizzou would go cold over the next 12 minutes and the Aggies (12-7, 3-3 SEC) were able to take advantage with a 23-2 run. Mizzou made 1-of-11 field goals during the stretch with eight turnovers as Texas A&M pulled in front by 12, 27-15.
An 8-0 stretch, however, quickly pulled Mizzou back within single digits before the schools headed into the locker room with Texas A&M in front by five, 30-25.
The strong finish spilled over to the second half as the Tigers finally moved back in front just over six minutes into the period, 39-38. Texas A&M, though, would answer with an 8-0 run for a seven-point lead and never trailed the rest of the game. Mizzou moved within a single possession on four occasions but the Aggies wouldn’t allow the visitors to complete the comeback in the six-point victory.
Mizzou finished by making 38.9 percent of its field goals with an 8-of-29 clip from 3-point range. While the Tigers held the Aggies to 28.8 percent shooting and 6-of-27 from beyond the arc, Texas A&M won the free-throw line on the night – making 27-of-37 from the charity stripe with the Tigers going 7-of-10.
UP NEXT
The Tigers remain on the road to face South Carolina on Saturday afternoon. First tip is scheduled for noon CT on SEC Network.
